General Policies and Procedures
 

HENRY FORD COMMUNITY COLLEGE

ENGLISH DIVISION

BEGINNING OF SEMESTER

Welcome to the start of a new academic year and new semester!  The following handout reviews information on prerequisites, course syllabi, and emergency alerts.  If you need grade books, please let the English and World Languages Division Secretary, Carol D'Avanzo, know.

  1. Class Rosters

      Continue to check your HFCC e-mail for updates on class lists (croster.hfcc.edu).

2.   Prerequisite Reports

      Carefully check the prerequisite sheets, especially if you are teaching ENG 131 & ENG             132.  If a highlighted N is by a student’s name, inform the student at the end of the class   session.  If a student argues that the prerequisite has been satisfied, require the student to complete the attached form.  Then submit the form to Carol so that we don’t purge the student at the end of add/drop period.  

      If a student has “a null set” or a mysterious dot (.) by his or her name, it means one of the           following:

·        The class was officially transferred in but not yet processed.

·        The student received a waiver (e.g., for ENG 081 or ENG 093) or completed an ELI prerequisite course.

·        A counselor recommended placement in the class based on an unofficial review of transcripts online or qualification due to a MEAP or Promises Plus scholarship.

·        The student achieved a score of 21 or higher on the ACT, a scored which qualifies a student for ENG 131.

For three terms, we have been checking “null sets.”  In ALL cases, student placement was accurate, so I now feel confident that “null set” students can verify the form of their placement.  You do NOT need to ask the student to verify anything.

  1. College Closings        

      If the college is closed due to inclement weather or power outages cause the college to close, I will change my voice mail greeting to indicate that the College is closed.  If you     think the weather could possibly cause a closing, call my number 313-845-6458 AFTER 6:30 AM or check the college’s home page.  If there is no message indicating a closing, you may assume HFCC is still open.  Please sign up for the emergency alert system by   clicking on the links on the home page.

  1. HFCC E-MAIL MANDATORY

      Please use your HFCC email account (e.g., mjones@hfcc.edu) and give that e-mail to your students.  Try to respond within twenty-four hours, but inform your students that you are unavailable on weekends.   If your address or telephone number or non-HFCC email address has changed, please let Carol know.  Please do not tell students to call the English Division to reach you.  We only have one secretary for 130 instructors.  If you need assistance with your HFCC email account or other technology related needs, please contact the Help Desk: https://dvc.hfcc.net/helpdesk/

  1. Absences

Please contact the English Division Carol D’Avanzo if you must miss a class.  If the class is in the evening, contact Campus Safety to have an announcement posted for your class. Please make sure that Carol is aware of all absences. Note that the policy of Human Resources is to dock adjuncts for any missed class.

  1. Required Format for Syllabus (measurable objectives verbatim)

      Please distribute a syllabus to all students during the first week of class and put a copy for          each course you teach in Carol’s mailbox by the first day of class.  The HFCC College         Organization approved a set of common criteria that must be included in all instructor syllabi.  See the template on our website: www.hfcc.edu/English.  Associate Deans have recently been reminded that all syllabi should include the exact wording for the Catalog Description, the Course Master Objectives etc verbatim. Feel free to cut and paste the objectives from the Course Masters on our website:  www.hfcc.edu/English.  Contact Carol D'Avanzo for areas of the website that require a password. 

      We worked very hard as a division to craft the objectives and general course requirements such as two in-class essays for ENG 131 & 132.  If you are new to our division, please note that Course Masters requirements and objectives can be changed by committee and are subject to divisional approval.

  1. Required Policy on Plagiarism

      Either distribute the division’s policy on plagiarism as a separate document or print it in

      your syllabus.  Given that plagiarism is such an extreme sport in our division, we decided            to ensure that all students are informed of the policy.  Please read this policy in class so          that no fraudulent student  can complain when failed for the course.

            English Division Policy on Plagiarism/Academic Integrity

Among other things, academic dishonesty includes plagiarism.  Although not the sole form of misconduct of which a student may be guilty, this is probably the most common academic offense that can occur in an English course.  Essentially, plagiarism is the act of using another author’s words or ideas without properly crediting him/her. Plagiarism can include, but is not limited to, the following fraudulent acts:

  • Failing to supply quotation marks for words – sometimes even a single word – copied exactly as seen in the original from published materials or internet sources, including blogs
  • Using the structure and/or substance of another’s text without providing credit
  • Employing passages directly from sources without citation while only rearranging word order, altering grammar or revising a few words
  • Omitting the sources or parenthetical documentation for words or ideas or including a Works Cited page without appropriate parenthetical documentation
  • Falsifying citations, such as inventing or misrepresenting sources
  • Submitting a paper written or revised by another

Students who plagiarize may fail the course and be reported to the Registrar’s Office so that the college can take disciplinary action.  Students can view HFCC’s complete and unabridged policy on Academic Integrity by visiting the following web address: http://www.hfcc.edu/current_students/student_policies.asp - 1.

  1. Drops 

      The last day for a student-initiated drop is APRIL FOOL’S DAY (and you doubted         that administration has a sense of humor).  Please make sure that your syllabus clearly distinguishes between E and DR grades for students who stop attending class, but do not officially withdraw.  Although I recommend a DR for students who have not attended, you can assign either an E or a DR grade.

  1. “THE HORROR, THE HORROR”—THE C- GRADE

       This division does NOT give C- grades because those grades do NOT transfer.  It is     ultimately kinder to give the student a D than to have the C- student required to repeat   ENG 131 after all other requirements are completed because the C- class does not transfer and is not         accepted by our nursing program.

  1. Incompletes

      If you issued an “I” grade (incomplete), it is your responsibility to work with the student             so that this grade is changed by the midpoint of the following semester.  The Division has           developed a form to be completed to assist in the issuance of an “I” grade.  Copies of this form are on goldenrod paper in the bins across from the mailboxes in L-249.  Please see the College catalog regarding details of when this grade may be assigned.
 

  1. Services at HFCC

      Please distribute copies of the summary sheet of the services available to students with   your syllabi. 

Misc. Classroom Issues

  1. After your class is finished and unless there is another class coming in, PLEASE turn off the digital visualizer (ELMO), computer, and especially the ceiling-mounted data projector.  Replacement bulbs are four hundred dollars ($400).  This is especially critical for those teaching late evening and Saturday classes.  If you forget, the units could be on all night or all weekend.
     
  2. As a courtesy to your colleagues PLEASE erase the board for the next teacher.

     
  3. Please take student attendance.  While Last Date of Attendance Reports are no longer required, it is helpful to have a record of attendance.  This is especially true if a student has a complaint.

Final Exams and Other Housekeeping

  1. Final Exams begin Tuesday, May 5.  The schedule is available on the web (http://www.hfcc.edu/current_students/final_exams.asp and scroll down).  Final exams must be given during the time and day specified by this official College schedule.  You cannot cancel your final exam period, but you can choose to have classroom presentations or have students compose that final in-class essay.  If you have a question about the finals schedule, please ask Carol or me for clarification
     
  1. Please encourage your students to make use of the Learning Lab.  Hours and many resources are available online at http://hfcclab.info
     
  2. Please remember that obtaining class lists and grade submission are all done through WebAdvisor.  If you need a copy of the adjunct handbook, please see Carol D'Avanzo, or click on the following link: http://www2.hfcc.edu/english/adjuncthandbook.htm.
     
  1. Please be observant about deadlines: turning in contact information and conference hours to Carol.
     
  1. If you have questions or comments, please do not hesitate to talk with me in person, or contact me by phone (313) 845-6458 or by email cbriggs@hfcc.edu.

CLASSROOM BEHAVIOR

  1.   If you have a problematic student, you have the option of telling the student that he or she cannot return to class until the Associate Dean has given her approval.  Notify the student of your decision and then send me a quick e-mail that details the nature of the problem that needs to be addressed.  If a student (or parent) seems threatening, immediately call security and then notify me of your action.
     
  1. Have a great semester!

Last Updated: Winter 2009